really
Americanadverb
-
in reality; actually.
to see things as they really are.
-
genuinely or truly.
a really honest man.
-
indeed.
Really, this is too much.
interjection
adverb
-
in reality; in actuality; assuredly
it's really quite harmless
-
truly; genuinely
really beautiful
interjection
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an exclamation of dismay, disapproval, doubt, surprise, etc
-
an exclamation of surprise or polite doubt
Etymology
Origin of really
First recorded in 1400–50; real 1 ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Some of the brides used very dark imagery, including images of the Grim Reaper. We weren't really expecting to see dramatic images like this," Thomas says.
From BBC
"We were young and dumb and had summit fever and really wanted to do that route and we continued anyways," Rebekah, a nurse, says.
From BBC
It got to the point, he says, that it was hindering his day-to-day life and he started to feel "really down".
From BBC
"It's really fresh, there's a lot of competition with reality TV, you're trying to get people's attention but you've got that level of escapism and I feel like it's really something special," she adds.
From BBC
"Thank you so much for believing in me when I didn't really believe in myself sometimes," an emotional Dean said as she accepted the best album accolade.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
